Air conditioner



F. E. WHITE AIR CONDITIONER May 15, 1951 Filed Sept. 30, 1949 v FredEfw'hifa- 6M om cy Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE AIRCONDITIONER ration of Wisconsin Application September 30, 1949, SerialNo. 118,759

This invention pertains to air conditioning units for both heating andcooling purposes, and more particularly to an apparatus for controllingtemperature of circulating air. through contact with a series of eitherheated or cooled tubes.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide a comparativelysimple, inexpensive and highly efiicient unit of the foregoingcharacter, in which a fixed volume of water may be heated by one or moreelectrical units to cause continuous circulation of the water through aseries of radiation tubes by thermosiphon action, to heat a forcedcirculation of air contacting said tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide thermostatic means forindependently controlling operation of the water heating and forced aircirculating devices.

Another object is to provide for continuous low heating of a fixedquantity of water when the maximum heating capacity is reduced throughthermostatic control, thus insuring constant thermosiphon circulation oflow temperature water through the radiation tubes for quick responsivemaximum heating action when required.

' A still further object is to provide means for automaticallymaintaining a fixed quantity of water in the radiation tubes.

In addition to the foregoing, other objects will appear as thedescription proceeds, and while the accompanying drawing illustrates onecomplete physical form of the invention constructed in accordance withthe best mode so far devised, it is to be understood that changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention are contemplated within the scope ofthe appendedclaims.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on .the line I-I of Figure2; and Figure 2 is a similar View taken substantially .on the line 22 ofFigure 1 with a hinged door 5 to facilitate access to the Y interior formaintenance and repair.

The cover 2 is provided with a plurality of outlet flues 2| forreception of the usual ducts (not shown) for distribution of conditionedair to several zones.

' 4 Claims. (01. 21 9-39 2 Secured to the back of the housing I is asupply duct II communicating with an inlet opening ll" formed in thehousing I adjacent its lower end. The duct I! may serve as an air returnfrom conditioned zones orto supply fresh air from any desired source.

Mounted within the housing I, intermediate its upper and lower ends, isa pair of rectangular spaced water headers 6, connected by a series ofradiation tubes 1, arranged in spaced staggered relation to allowcirculating of air between the tubes. To facilitate flow of waterthrough the radiation tubes 1, the outer walls of the comparatively thinheader panels 6,, are domed outwardly at 6' in alignment with the endsof the tubes. For heating purposes, a pair of tanks 8 are provided, eachof which serves one of the headers 3 through a connection 8, providingcommunication between the tops of the tanks 8 and the upper portions ofthe headers 6. The lower ends of the tanks 8 are provided with returnpipes [0 connected to a T fitting I I, which in turn communicates with abranch pipe I2 through a line IS. The branch pipe I2 is connected withthe headers 6 adjacent their lower edges to provide return communicationbetween the headers and tanks. A. pipe It, also connected to the fittingII, is provided with a hand valve 5, to serve as a drain for the entirewater system when desired, or to allow circulation of cold water throughthe headers and tubes for cooling.

Both of the tanks 8 are provided with conventional electric immersionheaters 16 for the purpose of heating water contained within the tankand causing the same to circulate through the headers 6 and connectingradiation tubes I, through thermosiphon action.

Mounted within the lower portion of the housing I, intermediatethe inletand the water circulating system described, is a partition shelf l8provided with a central opening IS, in which a motor driven impeller 20is mounted to create a forced circulation of air from the inlet I'I'through the radiation tubes I and outlet fiues 2|. For the fundamentalpurpose of conditioning air, the elements and arrangement thus fardescribed constitute the salient features of the present invention.However for the most efiicient and. automatic operation the present.unit, several conventional controls are provided, the function of whichwill be described in detail.

Water is supplied to the headers e and corn necting fiues I through asupply line 22, which communicates with one of the headers 6 through anipple 23. Obviously the supply line 22 could be controlled by aconventional hand valve for the purpose of maintaining a fixed quantityof water within the headers 6 and the radiation tube '1. However, toaccomplish the foregoing auto matically, the supply line 22 and nipple23 may be connected to a two-way valve 24 provided with a float chamber25, in which a iloat 26 is mounted to actuate the valve 24 and providecommunication between the supply line 22 and nipple 23 when the waterlevel recedes to a predetermined point within the system. When thesystem is filled to the desired height, the float 26 rises and by meansof the valve 24 cuts off the supply line 22, but provides communicationbetween the nipple 23 and a sight glass 21, the lower end of which isconnected to a T 28, in communication with one of the headers 6 througha nipple 29, thus allowing water to circulate through the sight tube 2'!and provide visible indication of the condition of the system. Athermometer 30 may be connected to the T 28 to indicate the temperatureof the water at all times.

In operation, it is undesirable to circulate air through the housing I,until such time as the water within the headers 5 and radiation tubes 1has reached a predetermined temperature. Consequently, a thermostatswitch 3! is provided to control operation of the circulating impeller20. A thermostat tube 3| connected with the switch 3! is extended intothe upper portion of the housing I intermediate the radiation tubes 1and the outlet flues 2!, to be affected by the temperature of air in thehousing.

A simple form of wiring for the electrical elements and controls isillustrated diagrammatically in connection with Figure l, in which azone thermostat Z controls one or" the electrical immersion heaters itthrough a relay box R and circuit wires a. The thermostat 35independently controls the impeller 28 by the circuit 1) also connectedwith the relay box R to which a line circuit L is attached. Theremaining heating element 16 is directly connected to the main circuit Lthrough the lines 0, and, therefore, is not afiected by the thermostatZ.

Operation To operate the present invention for heating purposes, thevalve IS in the drain pipe [4 is closed, while the headers 6, radiationtubes 1 and heating tanks 8 are supplied with a fixed quantity of water,through the supply line 22 and which is determined by the float valve24. As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing it is preferred to maintaina water level within the headers 6 slightly below the top row ofradiation tubes I in order to allow for expansion through heating. Whenthe water system is properly supplied the main electric circuit L isclosed to actuate the electrical heating elements It and heat the waterwithin the tanks 8, causing a thermosiphon action through the watersystem until a predetermined temperature of air is reached in the upperportion of the housing l, which then aiiects the thermostat switch 3| toclose the circuit b and operate the impeller to create a forcedcirculation of air from the duct ll, through radiation coils l andoutlet fiues 21. When the zone temperature reaches a desired degree, thethermostat Z is affected to open the circuit a and cut out the connectedheating element, after which the unaiiected heating element E6 connecteddirectly with the main circuit L continues in operation to maintain subficient heat for continued thermosiphon action of Water within thesystem, until such time as the zone temperature drops below the settingof the thermostat Z, which again cuts in the unoperative element, andbecause of the low temperature constantly maintained by the operativeelectrical element, quick responsive heating of the Water is obtainedwhen the disconnected element is put into operation.

To facilitate free thermosiphon action of the water within the system,one of the headers is provided adjacent its upper end with a ventfitting V, which prevents creation of low pressure vapor lock or airpockets to oppose such action. Should the quantity of water within thesystem become reduced through evaporation or leakage, the float valve 25lowers with the water level to again open the two-way valve 24 betweenthe supply pipe 22 and the inlet nipple 23 until the water isreplenished. As previously explained the sight glass 2'! and thermometer39 indicate condition of the water in the system at all times inasmuchas a constant circulation of water takes place through the sight glassand fitting.

When it is desired to utilize the present unit for cooling purposes,both the float valve 24 and the drain valve i5 are set to open positionto allow continuous circulation of cold water through the headers andradiation tubes, and the thermostat 3!, which controls the circulationimpeller is set accordingly for the desired range of cool air. Duringcooling the heating element circuits are cut out through setting of thezone thermostat Z and the switch 1/ provided in the circuit 0. Also, thevent fitting V is closed with a plug 1) (shown in dotted lines in Figure2) to prevent escape of cooling liquid.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it will be apparent that a comparatively simpleand highly efficient air conditioning unit has been devised foreconomical operation and maintenance, and which can be converted quicklyfor either heating or cooling purposes. Also, the controls providedrender the operation automatic and 001- proof, in addition to providingmaximum efficiency.

I claim:

1. An air conditioning unit comprising, a housing provided with one ormore outlet fines and an inlet line, a pair of horizontally spacedvertical water headers mounted in said housing intermediate said outletand inlet flues, a plurality of horizontal radiation tubes connectingsaid headers, a tank having outlet and return connections with one of.said headers, an electric heating element for said tank, a motor drivenimpeller for circulating air through said housing for contact with saidradiation tubes, a thermostat affected by the air temperature within theupper portion of said housing for controlling operation of saidcirculating impeller, and a room thermostat for controlling saidelectrical heating element.

2. An air conditioning unit comprising, a housig provided with one ormore outlet lines and n inlet fine, a pair of water headers mounted insaid housing intermediate said inlet and outlet dues, a plurality ofradiation tubes connecting said headers, a pair of tanks each havingoutlet and inlet communication with one of said head ers, an immersionheating element for each of said tanks, and a room thermostat forcontrolling one of said electric heating elements. 7

3. An air conditioning unit comprising, a housing provided with one ormore outlet flues and an inlet flue, a pair of water headers mounted insaid housing intermediate said inlet and outlet flues, a plurality ofradiation tubes connecting said headers, a pair of tanks each havingoutlet and inlet communication with one of said headers, an electricheating element for each of said tanks, a room thermostat forcontrolling one of said electric heating elements, without affecting theother, and a thermostat affected by the air temperature within the upperportion of said housing for controlling operation of said circulatingimpeller.

4. An air conditioning unit comprising, a housing provided with one ormore upper outlet flues and an inlet flue adjacent its lower end, a pairof Water headers mounted in said housing intermediate its upper andlower ends, a plurality of radiation tubes connecting said headers, apair of tanks each having outlet and inlet communications with one ofsaid headers, an electric heating element for each of said tanks, a.room thermostat for controlling one of said electric heating elements,without affecting the other, a motor driven impeller for circulating airthrough said housing in contact with said radiation tubes, a thermostataffected by the air temperature within the upper portion of said housingfor controlling operation of said circulating impeller, and means formaintaining a fixed quantity of water in said headers and radiationtubes.

FRED E. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,678,059 DArdenne July 24, 19281,938,333 Irons, Sr Dec. 12, 1933 2,151,140 Novak Mar. 21, 19392,197,298 Cobb Apr. 16, 1940 2,203,425 Welch June 4, 1940 2,360,071 NollOct. 10, 1944

